17.3.10

Rules of Christians Life

James 1:19-27

Listening and Doing

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

雅各書1:19-27

1:19 我親愛的弟兄姊妹們,你們每一個人都應該隨時聆聽別人的意見,不 急於發言,更不要輕易動怒。1:20 人的怒氣並不能達成上帝公義的目的。1:21 所以,你們要掙脫一切不良的習慣和邪惡的行為,用順服的心接受上帝種在你們心裏的道,就是那能夠 拯救你們的道。1:22但是,你們不要欺騙自己,以為只要 聽道就夠了;相反地,你們必須行道。1:23 那聽道而不去實行的,正像一個人對著鏡子,看看自己的面目,1:24 端詳了一會兒,然後走開,立刻忘了自己的長相。1:25 但是,嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人,不是聽了就忘掉,而是切實行道的人;這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福。 1:26 誰自以為虔誠,卻不管束自己的舌頭,便是欺騙自己;他的虔誠毫無價值。1:27 在父上帝眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:照顧苦難中的孤兒寡婦和保守自己不受世界的腐化。

一、中心內容:

內容:
1>當少說、多聽、慢慢的動怒。(v19-20)Talk less; listen more; be slow to anger. (v19-20)
2>當脫離不良的惡習,接受上帝種在我們心中的道。(v21)We should turn away from evil habits and accept the Word of God planted our heart. (V21)
3>不要單單聽道,更重要的是行道。(v22-24)Do not merely listen to the Word, more importantly, do what it says. (v22-24)
4>確實行道的人,上帝必然賜福。(v25)God will bless those who truthfully walk in His way. (v25)
5>要學會管束自己的舌頭,才能稱為虔誠人。(v26)Only those who learn to hold their tongues will be considered religious people. (v26)
6>善於照顧孤兒寡婦,保守自己不受世界腐化的人,才能稱為虔誠人。(v27)
Only those who take care the needs of orphans and widows, and keep themselves from being polluted by the world are considered religious people. (V27)

主題:基督徒的生活準則 Rules of Christians Life

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰?

1>公義的上帝。(v20)God is righteous. (v20)
2>賜下話語(道)的上帝。(v21)God who gives His Word to the world. (V21)

三、給我的教訓(命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告)是什麼?

1>多聽少說慢發怒 Listen more; talk less; be slow to anger
我親愛的弟兄姊妹們,你們每一個人都應該隨時聆聽別人的意見,不急於發言,更不要輕易動怒。1:20 人的怒氣並不能達成上帝公義的目的。(v19-20)

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (v19-20)
針 對部份喜歡高談闊論,甚至習慣與人激烈爭辯,尤其經常大動肝火、怒不可遏的基督徒,雅各特別提出教導,勸勉他們應該隨時、多方聆 聽別人的意見,不要急著發 言,也不要輕易動怒,因為人的怒氣並不能達成上帝公義的目的。正如箴言17:27的教導「明智的人沈默寡言;通達的人心平氣和。」一 樣。

To Christians who are opinionated and used to overly excited arguing and debating, James gives advice which are to constantly listen to others’ opinions, not to be hasty in speech, nor to easily become angry; for man’s anger does not bring about God’s righteousness. As it says in Proverbs 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”
反省:當與人相處、交往時,我是說得多,還是聽得多?我是否喜歡高談闊論?是否經常與人爭辯?甚至面紅耳赤、大動肝火、怒不可遏?我 稱得上是明智、通達的人嗎?
Reflection: Whenever I am around people, do I talk or listen most of the time? Do I delight in showing off my personal opinions and often debate with others to the point of becoming agitated, aggravated and irritated? Am I a wise man with good understanding?
2>領受真道除罪行 To receive Truth is to get rid of sin
所以,你們要掙脫一切不良的習慣和邪惡的行為,用順服的心接受上帝種在你們心裏的道,就是那能夠拯救你們的道。(v21)

21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (v21)
雅 各接著談到,想要成就上帝公義目的的人,務必除去一切貫滿著個人的污穢意念與不潔的惡習。以溫柔的心(謙卑的態度)安靜順服在上 帝面前,接受上帝種在我們 心中那真理的道(話語),而且使這道在心中扎根,這道就是能夠拯救靈魂的道。尤其溫柔的心(謙卑的態度)是聖靈果子的特質之一(加拉 太書5:23)也是八 福之一(馬太福音5:5)。

James continued, to become a man of God’s righteousness, one should get rid of all the filthy thoughts and evil habits which prevail in one’s heart. Be quiet and submissive before God with a humble heart, accept God’s redemptive Word which He planted in our hearts and let it take root. Humility also is one of the fruits of Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:23 and one of the Beatitudes mentioned in Matthew 5:5.
反省:我是否渴慕並勤讀聖經,讓上帝那真理、能拯救靈魂的道,在我心中深深的扎根,同時將那貫滿著「污穢意念」與「罪惡行為」的老我 逐漸除去?
Reflection: Do I thirst for and diligently read God’s Word to let the saving Truth take root in my heart, and to gradually get rid of all the filthy thoughts and evil deeds which are of the old-self?
3>不單聽道要行道 Do not merely listen to the Word but also do what it says
但是,你們不要欺騙自己,以為只要聽道就夠了;相反地,你們必須行道。那聽道而不去實行的,正像一個人對著鏡子,看看自己的面目,端 詳了一會兒,然後走開,立刻忘了自己的長相。(v22-24)

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (v22-24)
當雅各談完要以溫柔的心(謙卑的態度)安靜順服在上帝面前,接受上帝種在我們心中那真理的道(話語)之後,接著又強調:單單聽道其實 是不夠的,應該進一步確實行道,也就是將所領受的道,在日常生活中實行出來,否則這道一點用處都沒有。

After talking about being humble before God and accepting God’s Word into one’s heart, James followed by emphasizing living out God’s Word. It is not good enough to merely listen to the Word; moreover, one should do what it says. For the one who merely listens to the Word and not apply it in their personal life, it would be in vain.
雅各接著又打個比方說:只聽道而不行道的人,就像一個人照完了鏡子就離開,根本忘了自己的長相,也就是沒看清臉上的污點,這種照鏡子 的方式,一點作用都沒有。

He compared those who merely listen to the Word without living it to those who immediately forget what they look like after going away from the mirror. They did not look carefully into the dirty spots on their faces. The way they looked at themselves in the mirror was useless.
反省:每當我讀完聖經之後,是否除了增加宗教知識之外,其他什麼事都沒作,什麼事都沒有發生?還是根據所領受的道,針對自己的現況作 反省,並且提出具體的實踐事項,同時確實去遵行。尤其,因此而改變生命、改變關係?
Reflection: Whenever I finish reading the Bible, other than increased biblical knowledge, do I do anything in my personal life regarding what I read? Do I reflect on it and make practical, tangible changes to follow it, thus transforming my life and my relationships with others?
4>因行律法而蒙福
To be blessed by following the perfect law
但是,嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人,不是聽了就忘掉,而是切實行道的人;這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜 福。(v25)

25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (v25)
當 雅各談完行道的重要性之後,接著又針對行道的問題作了一些補充,就是說:嚴密查考(能讀出精神以及真意)那完整(來自上帝,完備 的、毫無瑕疵的)又使人得 自由(不再被私慾、罪惡所綑綁)的律法(聖經,上帝話語)而謹守的人,不是聽了就忘掉,而是切實行道的人;這樣的人在他所做的事上, 一定蒙上帝賜福。

In addition to his teaching, James mentioned of one looking intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues doing it (to understand the essence and true meaning of God’s perfect and flawless word and not to be in bondage of flesh and sin), such a person did not forget what he heard but actually followed it; he would be blessed by God in everything he did.
惟喜愛耶和華的律法,晝夜思想,這人便為有福!他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁,按時候結果子,葉子也不枯乾。凡他所做的盡都順利。(詩篇 1:2-3)

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)
反省:身為基督徒的我,如何追求福氣?我所追求的福氣與世人何異?是否 抓住蒙福的秘訣,就是渴慕上帝話語,而且照著去行?
Reflection: As a Christian, how should I pursue blessings? What is the difference between the blessings I pursue and the secular blessings? Did I grasp the secret for blessing? Do I thirst for God’s word and do it ?
5>
謹慎話語表虔誠 To hold one’s tongue is considered religious
誰自以為虔誠,卻不管束自己的舌頭,便是欺騙自己;他的虔誠毫無價 值。(v26

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (v26)
各接著談到有關「行道」的實例,首先提到「話語」的問題。他 說:誰自以為虔誠,也就是自以為相信上帝、敬畏上帝,卻不管束自己的舌頭,也就是在話語上沒有 節制、沒有約束, 這種人只是欺騙自己罷了!他的虔誠毫無價值,證明他對上帝的敬畏是虛假的。顯然,「話語」跟「敬虔」、「口舌」跟「信仰」,兩者之間 是息 息相關的。

James gave a live example to illustrate the meaning of doing God’s Word. He said, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (v26) Thus, this is a false religion. Apparently, words and religion, tongue and faith are inseparable.
反省:通常我的話語如何?是否能約束自己的口舌?能否藉著口舌證明我對 上帝的敬畏?

Reflection: Usually how do I handle my words? Am I able to restrain my tongue? Can I prove my reverence toward God through my tongue?

6>
關愛孤寡表虔誠 To care for orphans and widows is considered religious
在父上帝眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:照顧苦難中的孤兒寡婦和保守 自己不受世界的腐化。(v27

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (V27)
當談完話語之後,接著又談到有關「看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦」的問題。雅 各說,在父上帝的眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:照顧苦難中的孤兒寡婦。意思就是一個真正敬畏上帝虔誠的人,自然會以愛心關懷、照 顧諸如「孤兒、寡婦」等社會的弱勢者。

Following the issue of the tongue, he mentioned the issue of looking after orphans and widows in distress. A person who truly reveres God will automatically look after the minority in the society who are like orphans and widows.
反省:我對社會中的弱勢者,是否常常生出惻隱、憐憫之心?是否付諸具體 的扶助行動?或只是自私為己,對那些人的遭遇視若無睹?我稱得上真虔誠嗎?
Reflection: Do I often show mercy and grace toward the minority in the society? Do I take any tangible action to help? Am I selfish and ignorant of these people? Am I a real religious person?

7>
與世分別表虔誠 To set oneself apart from the world is considered religious
在父上帝眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:照顧苦難中的孤兒寡婦和保守 自己不受世界的腐化。(v27

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (v27)
當談完有關「看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦」的問題之後,雅各接著又談到應過 著「與世界分別」的生活。他表示:在父上帝的眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:保守自己不受世界的腐化,也就是過著分別為聖的生活。

James went deeper by bringing up that one should live a life set apart from the world. His words indicated that pure religion in God's eyes was not to be polluted by the world and to live a consecrated life.
反省:在這個價值觀混淆、是非不分、敗壞墮落的世代中,我的言行舉止與 世界有分別嗎?我對罪敏感嗎?我能成為光、成為鹽嗎?我稱得上虔誠嗎?
Reflection: Are my deeds different from the rest of the world, which is obscure in worldview, unclear over the issue of right and wrong and morally rotten? Am I sensitive to sin? Am I capable of being light and salt to the world? Am I considered religious?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用

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